Most Successful GCC Companies Abroad

A list of the most successful Gulf companies to take the international business world by storm.

Air Berlin Makes First Profit In Five Years

Shares in Germany’s second biggest airline jump after Etihad Airways buys stake in frequent flyer programme.

Kingdom Holding To Pay $147m In Dividends

The firm made a net profit of 209.6 million riyals ($55.9 million) in the fourth quarter.

Kvitova Wins Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships

The Czech claimed her 10th tour victory with the win over Sara Errani on Saturday.

Drone Manufacturers Target Rising Gulf Arab Demand

“All countries in the Arabian Gulf are talking to us,” says one executive in the unmanned aerial vehicle business.

Review: Lenovo IdeaPad Yoga 13

The flexible 13-inch hybrid from Lenovo can be folded into a tent or a tablet.

After Big Delays, Kuwait Moves Ahead On Infrastructure

The Gulf state is pushing ahead with a $2.6 billion plan to build a 36 km causeway connecting Shuwaikh port with the north of the country.

Etihad and Kenya Airways sign codeshare agreement

Deal provides Abu Dhabi carrier with better connectivity throughout Africa and Nairobi-based airline with improved international access.

Qatar Gives $100m In Humanitarian Aid To Syria

Donor countries meeting in Kuwait last month pledged more than $1.5 billion to aid Syrians affected by the civil war.

Saudi Arabia Salaries Increased 5.8% In 2012

The government’s bumper spending spree translated into higher salaries in the Kingdom.

Middle East Urged To Address Food Security Issues

Recent predictions suggest the value of food imports into the GCC alone will hit US$53.1 billion by 2020.

Qatar Airways Becomes First ME Airline To Fly To Cambodia

Alongside funnelling east-west business traffic via Doha, the new route will appeal to leisure travelers.

Qatar’s Doha Bank To Launch $426m Rights Issue

The issue will be split equally between a local offering and global depositary receipts (GDRs) in London.

Covered Sukuk To Offer Investors Greater Security

The structure could play a role in Islamic finance after it was used for the first time by London-based subsidiary of Kuwaiti firm Securities House.

London’s Shard Group To Manage Saudi’s Kingdom Tower

Mace will manage the development while the 1km tower will be built by Saudi construction firm Bin Laden Group.

UAE Close To Decision On UK, French Fighters

The French Rafale jet and BAE Systems-backed Eurofighter Typhoon are in a closely-contested race to win the deal.

Egypt’s Economy Grew 2.4% In Second Half Of 2012

Consumer spending has been a main driver for the economy battered by two years of political turmoil.

Bahrain’s Al Baraka Q4 Income Up 24%

The bank made a net profit of $26 million for the final three months of 2012, meaning a full-year profit gain of 13 per cent.

Hamptons MENA Reports 19% Growth In Dubai Property

The real estate firm recorded improved sales in established communities such as Downtown Dubai and Dubai Marina.

Dubai International Boat Show Welcomes Superyacht Builders

Dubai opens its boat show as survey reveals 60 per cent of world’s top 100 superyachts are in the Middle East.

Oman’s Bank Muscat Gets $195m Equity Investment

International Finance Corp is to buy into the lender with a 5.28 per cent private share placement.

StanChart Hires Ex-RBS Banker For Top MENA Job

Tom Emmet will head up the lender’s mergers and acquisitions business in the MENA region.

Emirates Banks Association To Change Name

The group will now be known as UAE Banks Federation to better reflect ‘the union of UAE banks’.

UAE’s Etisalat Writes Down Foreign Units By $769m

Last year the operator wrote off the $827 million value of its Indian operation in its 2011 fourth-quarter results.

Bahrain’s Ahli United Bank Sees 11.8% Q4 Profit

The lender said earlier this month it was seeking regional acquisition targets after selling a 29.4 per cent stake in Qatar’s Ahli Bank.

Saudi King Swears In Shura Council’s First Women Members

King Abdullah is seen as having pushed to cautiously advance the role of women in Saudi society.

Qatar To List $12bn Firm With Wealth Fund Assets

Qatar Holding’s vice-chairman says the firm will invest in shares, bonds and private equity.

REVEALED: World’s Top 10 Richest Sports Stars

Gulf Business reveals the top 10 wealthiest names from the world of sport.

Emaar Says India Roadshow Gets “Strong Response”

The developer is showcasing its Dubai-based properties to Indian investors.

FIFA is considering a request from the South American Football Confederation for hosts Qatar to play Ecuador a day earlier than previously planned

Qatar To Spend $120bn In Seven Years For 2022 World Cup

The tiny Gulf state will spend $220 billion in total as part of its National Vision 2030.